Taxpayer Bill of Rights

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1. Requests of a Taxpayer by Municipality.

(a) Minimum time periods for taxpayer response.

The taxpayer shall have at least 30 calendar days from the mailing date to respond to requests for information by CTCB. CTCB shall grant additional reasonable extensions upon application for good cause.

CTCB shall notify the taxpayer of the procedures to obtain an extension in its initial request.

CTCB shall take no lawful action against a taxpayer for the tax year in question until the expiration of the applicable response period, including extensions.

(b) Request for Prior Year Returns.

Except as provided in Paragraph (2) below, an initial inquiry by CTCB regarding a taxpayer's payment of tax may include taxes required to be paid or tax returns required to be filed no more than three years prior to the mailing date of the notice.

CTCB may make a subsequent request for a tax return or supporting information if, after the initial request, CTCB determines that the taxpayer failed to file a tax return, under reported income or failed to pay a tax for one or more of the tax periods covered by the initial request.

Subparagraph (b) above shall not apply if CTCB already has sufficient information to indicate that the taxpayer failed to file a required return or pay tax which was due more than three years prior to the date of the notice.

(c) Use of Federal tax information. CTCB may require a taxpayer to provide copies of the taxpayer's Federal individual income tax return if CTCB can demonstrate that the Federal tax information is reasonably necessary for the enforcement or collection of local tax and the information is not available from other available sources or the Department of Revenue.

The requester may appeal a final determination of the Board of Supervisors to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas or to the District Justice within 30 days of said final determination.

2. Refunds of Overpayments.

(a) General Rule. A taxpayer who believes an overpayment has been made of a tax to CTCB may file a written request with CTCB for refund or credit of the tax. A request for refund shall be made within three years of the due date for filing the report as extended or one year after actual payment of the eligible tax, whichever is later. If no report is required, the request shall be made within three years after the due date for payment of the tax or within one year actual payment of the tax, whichever is later.

A tax return filed by the taxpayer with CTCB showing an overpayment of tax shall be deemed to be a written request for a cash refund unless otherwise indicated on the tax return.

A request for refund shall not be considered a petition under Paragraph 7 below (relating to administrative appeals) and shall not preclude a taxpayer from submitting a petition under Paragraph 8 below (relating to petitions).

(b) Notice of Underpayment. For amounts believed to be overpaid as a result of a notice asserting or informing a taxpayer of an underpayment, a written request for refund shall be filed with CTCB within one year of the date of the payment.

3. Interest on Overpayment.

(a) General Rule. All overpayments of tax due Lower Paxton Township, including taxes on real property, shall bear simple interest from the date of overpayment until the date of resolution.
(b) Interest Rate. Interest on overpayments shall be allowed and paid at the same rate as the Commonwealth if required to pay pursuant to Section 806-1 of the Act of April 9, 1929 (PL 343. No. 176), known as the Fiscal Code.

(c) Exceptions.

(1) No interest shall be allowed if an overpayment is refunded or applied against any other tax, interest or penalty due Lower Paxton Township within 75 days after the last date prescribed for filing the report of the tax liability or within 75 days after the date the return or report of the liability due is filed, whichever is later.
(2) Overpayments of interest or penalty shall not bear any interest.

(d) Acceptance of Refund Check. The taxpayer's acceptance of CTCB's check shall not prejudice any right of the taxpayer to claim any additional overpayment and interest thereon. Tender of a refund check by CTCB shall be deemed to be acceptance of the check by the taxpayer.

e) Definitions. As used in Section 3 above, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

Date of Overpayment: The later of the date paid or the date tax is deemed to have been overpaid as follows:

Any tax actually deducted and withheld at the source shall be deemed to have been overpaid on the last day for filing the report for the tax period, determined without regard to any extension of time for filing.

Any amount overpaid as estimated tax for the tax period shall be deemed to have been overpaid on the last day for filing the final report for the tax period, determined without regard to any extension of time for filing.

An overpayment made before the last day prescribed for payment shall be deemed to have been paid on the last day.

Any amount claimed to be overpaid with respect to which a lawful administrative review or appellate procedure is initiated shall be deemed to have been overpaid 60 days following the date of initiation of the review or procedure.

Any amount shown not to be due on an amended income or earned income and net profits tax return shall be deemed to have been overpaid 60 days following the date of filing of the amended income tax return.

Date of Resolution: the date the overpayment is refunded or credited as follows:

(1) For a cash refund, a date preceding the date of CTCB's refund check by not more than 30 days.

(2) For a credit for an overpayment:

the date of CTCB's notice to the taxpayer of the determination of the credit; or

the due date for payment of the tax against which the credit is applied, whichever comes first. For a cash refund of a previously determined credit, interest shall be paid on the amount of the credit from a date 90 days after the filing of a request to convert the credit to a cash refund to a date preceding the date of the refund check by not more than 30 days whether or not the refund check is accepted by the taxpayer after tender.

4. Notice of Basis of Underpayment.

CTCB shall notify the taxpayer in writing of the basis for any underpayment that CTCB has determined to exist. The notification shall include:

(a) The tax period or periods for which the underpayment is asserted.

(b) The amount of the underpayment detailed by tax period.

(c) The legal basis upon which CTCB has relied to determine that an underpayment exists.

(d) An itemization of the revisions made by CTCB to a return or report filed by the taxpayer that results in the determination that an underpayment exists.

5. Abatement of Certain Interest and Penalty.

(a) Errors and Delays. In the case of any underpayment, CTCB may abate all or any part of interest for any period for the following:

Any underpayment or tax finally determined to be due attributable in whole or in part to any error or delay by CTCB in the performance of a ministerial act. For purposes of this paragraph, an error or delay shall be taken into account only if no significant aspect of the error or delay can be attributed to the taxpayer and after CTCB has contacted the taxpayer in writing with respect to the underpayment of tax finally determined to be due or payable.

Any payment of a tax to the extent that any error or delay in payment is attributable to an officer, employee or agent of CTCB being erroneous or dilatory in performance of a ministerial act. CTCB shall determine what constitutes timely performance of ministerial acts.

b) Abatement Due to Erroneous Written Advice by the Tax Office.

CTCB shall abate any portion of any penalty or excess interest attributable to erroneous advise furnished to the taxpayer in writing by an officer, employee or agent of CTCB acting in the officer's, employee's or agent's official capacity if:

the written advice was reasonably relied upon by the taxpayer and was in response to specific written request of the taxpayer; and

the portion of the penalty or addition to tax or excess interest did not result from failure by the taxpayer to provide adequate or accurate information.

Section 5 above shall not be construed to require CTCB to provide written advice to taxpayers.

6. Application of Payments.

Unless otherwise specified by the taxpayer, all voluntary payments of tax shall be prioritized by CTCB as follows:

Tax.

Interest.

Penalty.

Any other fees or charges.

7. Administrative appeals.

At any time a taxpayer may request a ruling on any issue regarding any of the eligible taxes by submitting all pertinent facts in writing to the CTCB Executive Director.

To appeal any adverse decision of the CTCB Executive Director, a taxpayer must file a timely written administrative appeal, providing all pertinent facts, with the Tax Office's Hearing Office. Petitions for appeal shall be addressed to:

The Hearing Officer will review the case as provided by the taxpayer along with the information the Tax Office relied on to make its initial decision.

8. Petitions.

(a) Filing. A petition is timely filed if the letter transmitted the petition is postmarked by the United States Postal Service on or before the final day on which the petition is required to be filed. Deadlines for filing petitions are as follows:

Refund petitions shall be filed within three years after the due date for filing the report as extended or one year after actual payment of the tax, whichever is later. If no report is required, the petition shall be filed within three years after the due date for payment of the tax or within one year after actual payment, whichever is later.

Petitions for reassessment of tax shall be filed within 90 days of the date of the assessment notice.

(b) Contents. The taxpayer shall place in the Petition such facts and circumstances as he deems necessary for the Hearing Officer to make a decision. The Petition may also contain or be supplemented by exhibits and legal memorandum, as the taxpayer deems necessary.

9. Decisions.

Decisions on petitions shall be issued within 60 days of the date a complete and accurate petition is received. Failure to act within 60 days shall result in the petition being deemed approved.

10. Appeals.

Any person aggrieved by a decision hereunder who has a direct interest in the decisions shall have the right to appeal to the court vested with the jurisdiction of local tax appeals by or pursuant to 42 PA C.S. (Relating to judiciary and judicial procedure).

11. Equitable and Legal Principals to Apply.

Decisions hereunder may be made according to principals of law and equity

12. Installment Agreements.

(a) Authorization. CTCB may enter into written agreements with any taxpayer under which the taxpayers allowed to satisfy liability for any eligible tax in installment payments, if CTCB determines that the agreement will facilitate collection.

(b) Extent to Which Agreements Remain in Effect.

Except as otherwise provided herein, any such agreement entered into by CTCB shall remain in effect for the term of the agreement.

CTCB may terminate any such prior agreement if:

(I) information which the taxpayer provided to CTCB to the date of the agreement was inaccurate or incomplete; or

CTCB believes that collection of any eligible tax under the agreement is in jeopardy.

If CTCB finds that the financial condition of the taxpayer has significantly changed, CTCB may alter, modify or terminate the agreement, but only if:

notice of CTCB's finding is provided to the taxpayer no later than 30 days prior to the date of such action; and

the notice contains the reasons why CTCB believes a significant change has occurred.

CTCB may alter, modify or terminate such an agreement if the taxpayer fails to do any of the following:

Pay any installment at the time the installment is due under such agreement.

Pay any other tax liability at the time the liability if due.

Provide a financial condition update as requested by CTCB.

(c) Prepayment Permitted. Nothing herein shall prevent a taxpayer from prepaying in whole or in part any eligible tax under any agreement with CTCB.

13. Confidentiality of Tax Information.

Any information gained by CTCB as a result of any audit, return, report, investigation, hearing or verification shall be confidential tax information. It shall be unlawful, except for official purposes or as provided by law, for CTCB to:

(a) Divulge or make known in any manner any confidential information gained in any return, investigation, hearing or verification to any person.

(b) Permit confidential tax information or any book containing any abstract or particulars hereof to be seen or examined by any person.

(c) Print, publish or make known in any manner any confidential tax information.

An offense under this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree and, upon conviction thereof, a fine of not more than $2,500 and costs, or a term or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both, may be imposed. If the offender is an officer of employee of the Township, the officer or employee shall be dismissed from office or discharged from employment.

14. Taxes of Real Property.

Except as provided in Paragraph 3 (relating to interest on overpayment), this Bill of Rights shall not apply to any tax on real property.

15. Differences.

If there are differences between this Bill of Rights and the rights and procedures outlined in Act 50, the Act takes precedence.